Fantasy Money

Thank you for these resources! I'm going to go through them today - maybe the library has "Debt." At least, I'm hoping it does.

Meg Syv

Debt: The First 5,000 Years is also an interesting read, as it takes an anthropological look at money and economics, discussing why Adam Smith's logic is based on faulty principles and a lot of other things.

Michael Brewer

Spice and Wolf is a good series to watch/read as regards getting into the nitty gritty of medieval currency. Though, yes, the coins can get confusing. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t79adaDO6o" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t79adaDO6o</a>

Michael Brewer

This is one of those questions and idea's that ultimately draws back to your world. An especially draws on how different cultures denote different materials. Are gold, copper and silver common place? Are they rare? Are Gems the ideal unite of acquisition? Is magic rare? Does magic help denote affluence? It also depends on how united your world is. Generally what I understand is the only true currency between most foreign empires/kingdoms/fiefdoms is bartering and trade for goods that can't be obtained with ease in ones country of origin that can be resold in their native land for the coin (or script) of choice. These are questions that ultimately need an answer. Do multiple empires/kingdoms have their own coin? If so then ones coin might be worth less or more based on the way another values materials. It might mean people of one empire might look to acquiring another empires coin because its corresponding alternatives in their coin make it practically king's ransom. If there is a predominate society that is either looked on as a pinnacle of civilization or has conquered a large territory and their currency is a stabilizer, then its neighbors currency could easily become the statuesque. Some of these situations have inverse effects or breaking markets or standardizing/ forcing other civilizations to adapt as there trade relations and city states grow in prominence. Ultimately the type of money your world uses can be a difficult question to answer depending on how your approach the situation. Even in our world we haven't managed a standardized currency. An attempts to try are often met with resistance. Sometimes its ideological reasons that stops it from happening sometimes it's just prejudice. However in fantasy it can be easy to shoehorn in your desires and make its easy because you have total control. However sometimes looking into a deeper reason or at least formulating a good line of reasoning why one currency becomes dominate over another can help lend authenticity to the setting. Seeing as Adventuring or Mercenary work seems to transcend the boundaries of cities and possibly entire countries, and furthermore seems to have a strong infrastructure behind it. Mostly that's conjecture on my part as I don't know for sure, but the idea that the Mercenary guilds can rent rooms and hire experts to validate claims shows me that there is an underlying support system in place. Meaning that there is likely a continental if not global economy in play that likely not only supports the Mercenary Origination but also would play a part in standardizing the value of and type of money that is passed through city-states and countries. In my little corner of the Multiverse, Ithparin (Human) culture has a dominate coinage called the Adeena. The coins themselves are minted from common metals/amalgams, with most coins being struck from bronze. The reason for this is consistency and for its resistance to wear and tear and lack of rusting. The coins are often marked with heads of gods from the Itparin Pantheon or mythological heroes and heroines from before the Great Cataclysm. The Adeena itself has little intrinsic value, however they are marked with a specific monetary value, essentially making them a metal promissory notes. At any time a person may turn in an Adeena at a local Mercenary Guild, Merchant Barter, or bank for the coins value in silver or gold. Thusly silver or gold can be traded for Adeena directly. By law the general public cannot have large amounts of silver and gold unless its jewelry or ornamental. Adeena are used across all Ithparin Nations in New Impara. The Argestrin Imperium being its originator an primary backer as the most established and strongest of the remaining power after the Cataclysm. The Atavan Principally follows just behind it, and often mint their own designs to be traded among its mercantile fleets and provinces, though it shares the same denominations as its Imperium cousins. Those of the Corothi Highlands the Corthagan City-States also grudgingly use the same currency despite their simmering hatred of the Imperium, if for no other reason than to stave off economic collapse. Adeena is also widely used in the Rebel Marches, more commonly referred to as the Harlequin Masquerades. The Adeenas presence is mostly because of the prominence of the Mercenaries Guild. However the currencies of the Rebel Marches are more diverse and often volatile as they trade in more direct values of gold and silver. However direct barter and trade are still the primary sorce of Wealth in Harlequin Lands. The Rebel Marches also see some Evaya (Elves) coin, the Ilavi (ill La vee) which is highly sought after not just for its metal value but because of its Etheric warding and the superstitions of good luck that surround Evaya currency. Oh my... that's a genealogy of money that I didn't expect to get into. Hopefully it will give some idea's.

Terraria uses this system, but is kind of metric with its system (100C = 1S, 100S = 1G), which makes counting cash really easy

Shield Generator 7

As an adventurer, I would totally carry Barbarians-R-Us gift cards on me to trade with the occasional warlock merchant orc.

Shield Generator 7

that... is actually an interesting concept to mull over. but also bordering on the "it's too complicated" line. I always figured an adventurer would carry a certain amount of coin on their person along with a metal plate or tablet that has a banking statement printed on it on how much they might have stored in a bank or vault enterprise. as long as the plate has a stamp or marker or particular insignia that proves it's not fake or a forgery, there's no reason it can't be the fantasy/medieval equivalent to the modern banking card... only metal so it doesn't sustain damage, unlike paper and ink.

Naziha Zahed

I like the simple 3-metal-coins system. copper, silver and gold. depending on your world, how many of each to sustain the next metal's worth is dependent on your lore. like 30 coppers for a silver, or 15 silvers for a gold. then there's the forth universal coin which I always like to call Crowns, basically a gold coin that's either twice or three times bigger/heavier than the regular gold coin. simple, easy to keep track of. and not too lore heavy because there's nothing special about it unless that's what you actually want to do. but that's just me. and of course, the bartering of items/goods and skills/crafts for each other depending on the society.

Naziha Zahed

Penny for your thoughts? Dont forget about barter since items could be worth a certain amount, money orders from companies or organisations... or guilds

peter allen

BTW, how has currency thus far been represented in the comic?

Shield Generator 7

But in all seriousness, this is a really interesting question. I've always imagined that all the coins were made of gold, something which is valuable in pretty much every region. But now that you bring it into question, I've thought of another possibility: magic. You mentioned that coins might be imbued with magic or contain a magic gem or something. But what if, instead, the coins were _made_ of magic? That would explain why adventurers can pocket a whole boat load of coins and not get weighed down by it all. maybe these magic coins automatically combine and part each other. Get more coins? Add it to your singular giant coin. Have to pay someone? Take a piece of your coin and give it to the person, who adds it to their coin. It would require that taking pieces off would be super easy, maybe the design of the coin is partitioned into units or something. But if it's made of magic, then the question arises as to whether or not it can be used as a power source. Could one eat it and gain magical abilities? Or at the very least, mana to power the abilities they already have? If it could, it would be like cigarettes in jails -- it can be used as currency but can also be expended for one' benefit (or temporary pleasure in the case of the cigarettes). There's still a lot more questions to answer, tho.

Shield Generator 7

Wow thats deep. It makes me question every fantasy world I ever knew

Shield Generator 7